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Could Video Games Be Used To Improve Youth Health?

Video games can sometimes be associated with a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy weight gain. A new study led by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) suggests that certain games could provide an attractive energy-burning P.E. alternative option for kids. Lead author Todd Miller, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Exercise Science at SPHHS, and his colleagues recruited 104 kids in grades 3 through 8 from a public school in the District of Columbia. The researchers wanted to see how traditional P.E. activities would stack up against Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) and another active video game called Winds of Orbis: An Active Adventure (Orbis).

We had a chance to ask Miller a few questions about the study –

What are the advantages of E-games over traditional exercise programs?

Kids who are non-athletic or intimidated by traditional physical education may like exer-games better than playing dodge ball in a gym setting. They might also be less intimidated by active video games and thus more likely to work up a sweat playing such games. In fact, our data show that for grades 3 through 5, kids met the guidelines for vigorous physical activity while playing the e-games.

Are there any disadvantages?

Kids who are more athletic might get bored with e-games more easily than they do playing on a team or in a competitive sport. Also, by the time kids reach middle school they do not meet the guidelines for vigorous physical activity while playing E-games. However, middle school kids don’t meet those guidelines in traditional PE classes either and that’s a big problem we’ve got to solve: How do you keep older kids engaged and moving vigorously enough to stay fit?

With these specific games children and adolescents are forced to be active to play, do you think that “standard” games associated with sedentary gameplay contribute to obesity rates?

Any time that kids spend sitting in front of a screen contributes to inactivity and weight gain, especially if high-fat, high-sugar snacks are involved. However, screen time includes not just passive gameplay but time spent by kids watching television. Many kids spend far more time passively watching TV than playing computer games.

Do you think E-games are a viable substitute for traditional P.E. programs for schools?

No–but if a kid likes DDR more than traditional PE–and will burn more calories as a result of playing it over traditional PE activities, than it makes sense to add DDR as part of the PE curriculum. PE should be about variety. A game is only effective at increasing energy expenditures if kids are willing to participate–regardless of whether the game is an e-game or a traditional one.

What are the key results of the study?

· As kids get older their activity level in PE often decreases to ineffective levels regardless of the activity.

· Younger girls and younger obese kids burn the same amount of energy with e-games as they do with traditional PE.

· Younger children who play e-games do meet the guidelines for vigorous physical activity.

· The type of e-game determines the energy expenditure. Not all e-games are equal at getting kids to move.

The kids in the study reported to their regularly scheduled physical education classes but then were randomly assigned to three 20 minute sessions of DDR, Orbis or the usual gym class. Kids playing DDR dance along to electronic music in ever-increasing and complicated patterns. Those using Orbis play the role of a virtual superhero that climbs, jumps, slides and has other sorts of active adventures. The testing was supervised by a researcher who measured each child’s energy expenditures during the study sessions.

The researchers discovered that on average kids expended more energy when they participated in the P.E. activities. But the team also found that for children in grades 3 through 5 the active video games also spurred them to move enough to meet the recommended intensity criteria for vigorous activity. That finding suggests that E-gaming might be a useful alternative to traditional physical education—at least for younger school children.

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Well, we have to admit that nothing is like the old good years. Nowadays children do not have the ability to go out and play safe and carefree. Too many cars as well as bad people, who just need the right moment to take advantage on them, and in general too many risks. Therefore, I believe that technology for this situation has made miracles. Children can play, have fun, and of course have the physical activity that is required! In addition, if the parent chooses an appropriate –educational game, the child will be taught, as well. Another advantage is that some of these games are not only for the children!